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Effect of grapefruit juice on urinary lithogenicity
1Kidney Stone Prevention and Treatment Programs, New York Veterans Affairs Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
The Journal of Urology
|July 4, 2001
Summary
Grapefruit juice increased urinary oxalate and citrate but did not alter urine supersaturation or lithogenicity in healthy adults. The mechanism behind grapefruit-induced nephrolithiasis risk remains unexplained by this study.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Human Physiology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Epidemiological studies suggest a link between grapefruit juice consumption and increased nephrolithiasis risk.
- The underlying physiological mechanisms for this association have not been previously investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of grapefruit juice on urinary chemistry.
- To assess changes in lithogenicity markers following grapefruit juice consumption.
Main Methods:
- Ten healthy adults consumed either water or grapefruit juice for two 7-day periods.
- 24-hour urine samples were collected during the final 3 days of each period.
- Urine chemistry, supersaturation of common stone-forming salts, and lithogenicity were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Grapefruit juice consumption led to increased urinary oxalate and citrate excretion.
- No significant changes were observed in urine volume or creatinine excretion.
- Calculated supersaturation and lithogenicity measures for calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, and uric acid remained unchanged.
Conclusions:
- Grapefruit juice intake causes offsetting changes in urine chemistry, resulting in no net alteration in supersaturation.
- The study did not demonstrate an increase in lithogenicity associated with grapefruit juice consumption.
- The findings do not explain the increased nephrolithiasis risk observed in epidemiological studies.